Tag strip and holder combination

ABSTRACT

A set of tags manufactured in a unitary strip separated by frangible sections and having integral retaining tabs is in combination with a holder therefor comprising a cardboard packet with slots therethrough to slidably receive said tabs.

United States Patent Inventor Eugene Sebring Chicago, Ill.

App]. No. 822,391

Filed May 7, 1969 Patented Jan. 19, I971 Assignee PerfectionEnterprises, Inc.

Chicago, III. a corporation of Illinois TAG S TRIP AND HOLDERCOMBINATION 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 206/56, 40/21, 40/117; 206/79 1m. Cl G09f3/00, 609d 3/13.655122/99 Field of Search 206/56(A3),

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,602 5/1931 Dey 206/791,856,375 5/1932 Cohen 206/82 3,057,473 10/1962 Stem et al.. 206/783,164,250 1/1965 Paxton 206/56(A3) 3,182,791 5/1965 Jenner.... 206/423,340,630 9/1967 Becker 40/21(C) Primary Examiner-Williarn T. Dixson,Jr. Attorney-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson ABSTRACT: A set oftags manufactured in a unitary strip separated by frangible sections andhaving integral retaining tabs is in combination with a holder thereforcomprising a cardboard packet with slots therethrough to slidablyreceive said tabs.

PATENTEl] JANISIQYI 3.556291 6 3:3 5% b 5 JM TAG STRIP AND HOLDERCOMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to theprovision of a unitary set of tags separated by frangible sections and aholder therefor. More particularly, this invention relates to theprovision of a calendar on a strip of pliable metallic tags, each tagrepresenting, for example, one month and being separated from adjacenttags by frangible sections, and a cardboard holder having slotstherethrough and adapted to conveniently hold said calendar.

Various tag set and holder combinations have heretofore been proposedbut have had many weaknesses associated therewith. For example, oftenthe tag set was not of unitary construction. This made handling andstorage of the set cumbersome as each tag had to be individuallyhandled. In sets that were of unitary construction, often no means wasprovided by which a smooth edge would result when the tags wereseparated for use. The holder in which the tag set was contained did notallow for easy removal of either the entire set or an individual tag.Moreover, the holder often did not provide a convenient method forstoring the remaining tags of the set after one or more has beenremoved. Further, the tag set and holder combination was often so bulkythat it could not be shipped or mailed in an ordinary envelope butrequired a special container or box. Finally, the holder often did notpresent a suitable or sufficiently large surface on which a messageaccompanying the tags could be printed.

SUMMARY In carrying out this invention in one form,a set of integrallyconnected pliable metallic tags having tabs attached thereto and acardboard holder having slots therethrough to slidably receive thosetabs is provided. More particularly, a watchband calendar is provided,each month being printed or otherwise inscribed on the face of aseparate, pliable, metallic tag. The tags of the calendar are integrallyformed and separated by frangible sections made as by scoring.Attachedto some or all of the tags are retaining tabs. Additionally, acardboard holder or packet is provided which may have printed thereon anadvertising message or greeting. The holder has a series of slots forreceiving the tabs and securing the calendar to the holder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unitary tag set andholder combination which is of a shapethat is convenient for storage andmailing. It is a further object to provide such a combination in whichit is easy to remove either a single tag or the entire set. It is alsoan object to provide a combination such that once one or more tags areremoved from the set, the remaining ones may be conveniently stored inthe holder. A

further object of this invention is to provide a unitarily constructedtag series and holder therefor wherein when the individual tags areseparated a smooth edge results along the line of separation. Anotherobject of this'invention is to provide a tag series and holdercombination which includes a set of tabs on the tags to secure themwithin the holder. Another object of this invention is to provide such acombination in which, when the tabs are removed from the tags, a smoothsurface results along the line of separation. A still further object ofthis invention is to provide a means for fulfilling the aboveidentit'iedobjects on which an advertising or similar message may be presented to aconsumer or similar person in a manner such that he will be motivated toretain the means bearing the message and periodically refer to it overan extended period of time. Further and additional objects will appearfrom the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan viewof a first embodiment FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along theline 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the frangible section dividing the twoadjacent tags;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showingtwo adjacent tags after they have been separated at the frangiblesection adjoining them; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of one of the tagsof FIG. 5 showing the surface resulting when two adjacent tags areseparated at the frangible section adjoining them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,and more particularly to FIG. I, one embodiment 10 of the presentinvention is shown comprising tag strip 12 and holder 14. Holder 14 maytake any one of a number of forms, but in this embodiment is made fromcardboard and includes retaining leaf l6 and cover leaf 18, shownfragmentally, foldably connected at hinge 20. The holder may haveprinted on either the cover or retaining leaves a greeting oradvertising message.

Tag-strip 12 includes a series of individual tags 22. The tags areintegral with one another and are preferably formed from a thin,pliable, metallic material. They may be advantageously simultaneouslystamped from a sheet of such material. In FIG. 1 the tags are shownplaced end to end in one continuous strip. In the embodiment of FIG. 2,the tags are placed side to side.

Each tag 22 includes face 32 and margins 34. Margins 34 are attached atopposite sides of the face and are adapted to fold back underneath face52 to secure the tag to a convenient object. It is not necessary thatthe margin be folded along the line of its attachment to the face. Itmay be folded on a line further removed from the face. The facepreferably has printed or otherwise inscribed thereon a message orinformation of essentially timely nature. In the preferred embodiment,the tags are in a series of twelve and each tag has printed thereon acalendar for one month forming a breakoff, watchband calendar. Eachmonth the user may remove a single tag from the tag-strip as willsubsequently be described, place it adjacent a watchband, and fold themarginal portions around the watchband to secure the tag-strip to thewatchband. Other information may also be inscribed on the tag. Forexample, a religious institution might wish to give a series of tags toits members, each tag bearing an appropriate religious thought for theweek or month. A sales organization may issue a tag series to itssalesmen, each tag having thereon price information about special salesto be run during specified times. The tags might conveniently have onlyone marginal area 34, it being attached to one side of the face andbeing adapted to secure the tag to an article of clothing such as ashirt pocket or cuff.

Frangible sections 24 separate the individual tags. The nature of thefrangible sections is shown specifically in the cross section of FIG. 4.It will be seen that the frangible section is comprised of an area ofreduced cross section formed at the intersection of bevel surfaces 26extending inwardly from the faces 28 to form a V-shaped recess. Therecesses may be formed, for example, by the same stroke of the stampingmachine which forms the tag-strip or in a separate operational step, asby scoring.

The frangible section gives a means by which the individual tags mayeasily be separated from one another with a resultant smooth edge alongthe area of separation. The area of reduced cross section yields a jointabout which two adjacent tags may be flexed with respect to one another.The joint will have substantially less resistance to such flexing orbending action than the adjacent areas. Consequently, when the materialis repeatedly bent to a point exceeding its elastic limit, the tag-stripwill break at the frangible section along the area of reduced crosssection as is illustrated in FIG. 5. Moreover, since the area of lowresistance is well defined the resultant edges will be relativelysmooth. This is best seen in FIG. 6 which shows a partial enlarged viewof one of the tags of FIG. 5 and the resultant smooth surface ofseparation 30. When this invention is used as a watchband calendardiscussed above, smooth separation surfaces are required since they willbe exposed to the skin of the users arm.

lntegrally attached to one or more of the tags are retaining tabs 36,shown partially in dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. At locationscorresponding to retaining tabs 36 are slots 38 positioned on retainingleaf 16. When the tag-strip is placed within the holder, retaining tabs36 are inserted through slots 38 to secure the tag-strip to the holder.Perpendicular slots 40 may also be provided in retaining leaf 16 at oneend of slots 38 and perpendicular thereto. The perpendicular slots easethe insertion and removal of the retaining tabs through slots 38.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 a pair of retaining tabs is attached onopposite sides of each individual tag. This arrangement has theadvantage that no matter how many of the individual tags are removed theremainder will be securely held in the holder. In the embodiment of H0.2 only two retaining tabs are used and they are attached to sides ofterminal tags 42 at opposite ends of the tag-strip. This embodiment hasthe advantage that the strip may easily be removed from and inserted inthe holder. The retaining tabs are separated from the tags with whichthey are associated by frangible sections 44 similar to the frangiblesections 24 separating the individual tags described above.

It will be obvious that certain modifications of the specificembodiments shown may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention. For example, the retaining tabs might be usedin place of the margins to attach the tags to the material or objects towhich they are to be secured. Various arrangements for the retainingtabs and slots could be used. A single tag series could be made up of anumber of tagstrips disposed within the same holder.

lclaim:

1. An article comprising:

a holder having a retaining leaf;

a plurality of slots positioned on said retaining leaf and extendingtherethrough;

a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigidpliant material and comprising a series of polygonal tags frangiblyconnected to each other, each tag being connected to at least oneadjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof; and

a plurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposedin said slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein each of said tags has a face and amargin integral with a side of said face, said margin being adapted tobe folded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from thetag-strip.

3. The article ofclaim 1, wherein each of said tags has a face and twomargins each integral with a side of said face, said margins beingadapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detachedfrom the tag-strip.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein there are 12 tags in said tag-stripand the face of each tag bears a calendar for one of the months of theyear.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein there are two tabs frangibly connectedto the terminal tags of the tag-strip.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein there are two slots which secure oneof said tabs to the retaining leaf, said slots being substantiallyperpendicular to each other.

7. The article of claim 3 wherein the tags are connected to each otheralong the corresponding margins of adjacent tags.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the tabs are frangibly connected tothe sides of the faces of the tags, other than those sides of said faceswhich are integral with said margins.

9. The article of claim 3 wherein the tags are connected to each otheralong corresponding sides of the faces other than the sides integralwith said margins.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the tabs are connected to theterminal tags of the tag-strip.

11. An article comprising:

a holder havin a retaining leaf;

a plurality of s ots positioned on said retaining leaf;

a tag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigidpliant material and comprising a series of 12 polygonal tags frangiblyconnected to each other, each tag being connected to at least oneadjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof and each tag having aface bearing a calendar for one of the months of the year and twomargins each integral with a side of said face, said margins beingadapted to be folded back underneath said face after the tag is detachedfrom the tag-strip; and

a plurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposedin said slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.

[2. The article of claim 11 wherein there are two tabs frangiblyconnected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein there are two slots which secure oneof said tabs to the retaining leaf, said slots being substantiallyperpendicular to each other.

1. An article comprising: a holder having a retaining leaf; a pluralityof slots positioned on said retaining leaf and extending therethrough; atag-strip removably attached to said retaining leaf and made of rigidpliant material and comprising a series of polygonal tags frangiblyconnected to each other, each tag being connected to at least oneadjacent tag at the corresponding edge thereof; and a plurality of tabsfrangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposed in said slots therebysecuring said tag-strip to said retaining leaf.
 2. The article of claim1 wherein each of said tags has a face and a margin integral with a sideof said face, said margin being adapted to be folded back underneathsaid face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip.
 3. The articleof claim 1, wherein each of said tags has a face and two margins eachintegral with a siDe of said face, said margins being adapted to befolded back underneath said face after the tag is detached from thetag-strip.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein there are 12 tags in saidtag-strip and the face of each tag bears a calendar for one of themonths of the year.
 5. The article of claim 4 wherein there are two tabsfrangibly connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.
 6. Thearticle of claim 5 wherein there are two slots which secure one of saidtabs to the retaining leaf, said slots being substantially perpendicularto each other.
 7. The article of claim 3 wherein the tags are connectedto each other along the corresponding margins of adjacent tags.
 8. Thearticle of claim 7 wherein the tabs are frangibly connected to the sidesof the faces of the tags, other than those sides of said faces which areintegral with said margins.
 9. The article of claim 3 wherein the tagsare connected to each other along corresponding sides of the faces otherthan the sides integral with said margins.
 10. The article of claim 9wherein the tabs are connected to the terminal tags of the tag-strip.11. An article comprising: a holder having a retaining leaf; a pluralityof slots positioned on said retaining leaf; a tag-strip removablyattached to said retaining leaf and made of rigid pliant material andcomprising a series of 12 polygonal tags frangibly connected to eachother, each tag being connected to at least one adjacent tag at thecorresponding edge thereof and each tag having a face bearing a calendarfor one of the months of the year and two margins each integral with aside of said face, said margins being adapted to be folded backunderneath said face after the tag is detached from the tag-strip; and aplurality of tabs frangibly connected to said tag-strip and disposed insaid slots thereby securing said tag-strip to said retaining leaf. 12.The article of claim 11 wherein there are two tabs frangibly connectedto the terminal tags of the tag-strip.
 13. The article of claim 12wherein there are two slots which secure one of said tabs to theretaining leaf, said slots being substantially perpendicular to eachother.